Omar Abdullah Inaugurates National Conference on Patient Safety at SKICC, Calls for Integration of Patient Care and Safety in J&K’s Health System
Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday inaugurated the two-day National Conference on Patient Safety (NCPS-2025) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC). The event, organized by the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, is themed “Every Error a Lesson, Every Lesson a Safer Care.”
In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister emphasized the need to integrate patient safety with patient care to strengthen the overall healthcare delivery system in Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed hope that the deliberations at the conference would lead to actionable recommendations for improving safety standards across health institutions in the Union Territory.
“Through this conference, I hope actionable points emerge which the government can adopt in both major and smaller hospitals, ensuring that patient safety becomes as much a focus as patient care,” Omar Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister underlined that while patient care and patient safety are interlinked, they represent distinct but equally vital dimensions of healthcare.
“Patient care is about how we treat disease—diagnosis, treatment, and empathy for the patient. Patient safety, on the other hand, means taking every precaution to avoid errors that can endanger life. A treatment cannot be considered good unless both are ensured,” he added.
Omar Abdullah urged participants to ensure that the discussions translate into practical measures applicable to hospitals across J&K. “The biggest benefit of such conferences is that we can learn from best practices elsewhere and adapt them to our unique circumstances,” he noted.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released the NCPS-2025 Souvenir and the Annual Appraisal Report 2024–25 of SKIMS.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Minister for Health & Medical Education Sakeena Itoo hailed SKIMS as a visionary institution established by Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upgrading healthcare infrastructure, stating,
“Under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, we are determined to equip our health institutions with modern facilities so that people no longer need to travel outside J&K for treatment.”
She also stressed the importance of behavioural change among doctors and public awareness to foster stronger doctor-patient trust.
Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, praised SKIMS for its credibility and contribution to patient care and safety, crediting the institute for producing thousands of specialist doctors serving across India and abroad.
The event was also addressed by Secretary, Health & Medical Education Dr. Abid Rashid, Director SKIMS Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, Head of Hospital Administration Prof. G.H. Yatoo, and Founder Director SKIMS Dr. A.K. Nagpal.
The conference brought together faculty members, senior doctors, researchers, scholars, and delegates from across the country. Among those present were MLAs, former directors of SKIMS, Director SKICC Haris Ahmad Handoo, senior administrative officers, and faculty members of SKIMS.
